Effects of Videos on Students’ Knowledge of the Target Language Culture

Year 2017, Volume: 18 Issue: 3, 162 - 174, 31.12.2017

Aslı Akyüz , Ayfer Tanış Eftima Khalıl , Özdenur Ardıç Enisa Mede

https://doi.org/10.17679/inuefd.287518

Abstract

As language and culture are
two inseparable entities, language teachers
need to take the culture of the target language into consideration during their teaching practices in
order to have learners who are able to speak the language well and understand
the social context in which it exists. Also, as 21^st century
teachers, we cannot deny the efficacy of technology integrated courses to
maximize learning. Grounded on this information, this research aimed to find out the effects of videos
on the knowledge of the target culture of EFL students and to analyse
students’ perceptions about learning culture
of the target language. The participants of the study included 60 students enrolled at a public university in
Turkey during 2016-2017 academic year. Both qualitative and quantitative data
were collected by means of a Target Culture Knowledge Test and an attitude
questionnaire followed by semi-structured interviews regarding students’
perceptions about learning the culture of the
target language. The results of the study pointed out that using videos
enhanced students’ knowledge about the target culture. Also, the results
indicated that students had a positive attitude toward learning the target
culture. The findings can contribute to curriculum developers,
teachers, instructors and teacher educators

Keywords

culture, video, English as a foreign language

Effects of Videos on Students’ Knowledge of the Target Language Culture

Abstract

As language and culture are
two inseparable entities, language teachers
need to take the culture of the target language into consideration during their teaching practices in
order to have learners who are able to speak the language well and understand
the social context in which it exists. Also, as 21^st century
teachers, we cannot deny the efficacy of technology integrated courses to
maximize learning. Grounded on this information, this research aimed to find out the effects of videos
on the knowledge of the target culture of EFL students and to analyse
students’ perceptions about learning culture
of the target language. The participants of the study included 60 students enrolled at a public university in
Turkey during 2016-2017 academic year. Both qualitative and quantitative data
were collected by means of a Target Culture Knowledge Test and an attitude
questionnaire followed by semi-structured interviews regarding students’
perceptions about learning the culture of the
target language. The results of the study pointed out that using videos
enhanced students’ knowledge about the target culture. Also, the results
indicated that students had a positive attitude toward learning the target
culture. The findings can contribute to curriculum developers,
teachers, instructors and teacher educators.

Keywords

video, culture, English as a foreign language

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